Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-11
Rural Improvement.
To the Editor of the HERALD:

To the Editor of the HERALD:
The ordinary rural village is
dreary and distressing to any person
of refined taste. Improvements
within easy reach not only satisfy
the residents and the public, but
add substantial value to the pro-
perty so adorned. Many of our
State hamlets have been regenerated
and "village improvement societies
are happily not uncommon. The
system is simple; the improvers
start with their own property; all
the better if adjacent owners be i'll
terested, as it makes a more conspic-
uous beginning. Tumble-down
fences are removed, and lots thrown
open so as to add width to streets
and roads. OF course this involves
the enforced absence of stray COWS
and. pigs. Sidewalks are planted
uniformly with shade trees; surfaces
leveled down or up to grade, and
sodded; flower borders and small
towering shrubs planted; streets
put into the neatest kind of order,
and kept so; division lines of lots
marked by neat posts and perhaps a
single wire, or the posts alone suf-
fee. Neighbors are then wrestled
with to follow the lead.
Nothing is more contagious than
such an example, and it soon spreads
to the nearby farms which are put
in good order, and the improved
roads furnish pleasing drives for the
villagers, and attract the notice of
strangers and visitors who are seek
ing homes; this, of course, increases
the value of property. The funds
for these purposes arc raised by sub,
scription; but the work is mainly
done by the reformers at their leis-
ure. Some money is needed to
carry out the full purpose. This is
raised by entertainments given by
the leaders-as readings, festivals,
concerts, lectures by popular men,
who are easily induced to make very
reasonable terms, and in other ways
as may be found practicable. But
this is in itself one of the most pro.
fitable parts of the whole plan; for
literary society, ladies sewing
circle, and other social gatherings
tend very much to the Improvement
of the village. A farmers club, to
meet in the village one afternoon in
the week, would be a most excellent
adjunct to the association, and this
might lead to a cooperative union
Of the members for business pur-
poses.
The end in view being plain and
simple, nothing more is required
than determination to carry it out
by gradual consecutive steps; and
these advances are evolved one from
another as the work goes on. The
main point is to make a beginning,
and the pleasing result of the first
efforts is usually such as to insure
continuance. By the association of
several persons, seeds, shrubs and
trees, are purchased chearly, and,
in one very successful instance a
nursery of cheap evergreens and
towering shrubs was made at a
small cost; and the profit from the
sale of these after two years furnish
ed the means of planting the village
streets with the shade trees. What
one is there among us who would
wish to see the row of handsome
shade trees that adorn the street on
which the Stewart House is located
removed? One needed part of the
work is to put up hitching posts to
secure the horses, so that they may
not be tied to the newly planted
trees by thoughtless strangers. In
cases where this happens members Of
the association on the watch for such
accidents gently suggest to the
stranger the propriety of using the
post and saying the trees. There